For the fifth in the series of X-Men movies (or perhaps first in a rebooted franchise depending on how you look at it), Matthew Vaughn has been hired to direct X-Men: First Class which is slated for a June 3, 2011 release.
The movie will follow the early days of the X-Men, before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr became Professor X and Magneto. The story will focus on the events that caused the split between the two, as well as the origins of the original X-Men Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm and more.
Variety is reporting that the movie will begin production this summer, but no cast has been announced yet.
Vaughn’s current movie, KickAss, about a misfit wannabe superhero in a world without superheroes, is currently in theaters now.
Vaughn was originally attached to direct X-Men: Last Stand, but backed out before production began. Bryan Singer, the director of the first two X-Men movies, conceived the story for First Class, and is attached as a producer.
The first three X-Men movies and the spin-off Wolverine: Origins have grossed a combined $1.53 billion worldwide at the box office.
